Minority Calls on Lands Minister to Address Galamsey Concerns

The Minority group in Parliament is calling on the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Kofi-Armah Buah, to appear before the House and give a full account of the government’s current approach to tackling illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey.

According to the Minority, the galamsey crisis has taken a turn for the worse, resulting in widespread destruction of the environment, heavy pollution of water bodies, and the ruin of farmlands across the country. They caution that the contamination from these activities could endanger public health, especially through affected food crops.

Deputy Minority Whip Habib Iddrisu, speaking on behalf of the group, highlighted the urgency of the matter and insisted that Parliament must take swift action.

“There is a need for us to schedule the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to brief us on the galamsey fight. Our water bodies are so polluted that farmlands are being destroyed, and some crops are no longer safe for consumption. The Minister must provide answers.” He stated.

He further raised concerns about confusion surrounding who is overseeing the crackdown on illegal mining. In particular, he questioned the increasing involvement of the Minerals Development Fund (MDF) Administrator in operations traditionally handled by security task forces.

“Previously, the Minerals Development Fund Administrator was spearheading the seizure of excavators. Now, it seems CEOs and administrators are the ones leading the fight, requiring task forces to conduct arrests. We need clarity on who is truly in charge of this fight,” he argued.

This call from the Minority comes amid a rising wave of public frustration over how the government has handled illegal mining. Despite several promises and interventions over the years, the problem continues to devastate Ghana’s natural resources, especially its forests and water bodies.